In the 19th century, Indian shawls arrived in Europe packed in patchouli leaves to keep moths away, and buyers soon learned to judge a genuine shawl by its smell.
Origin & Traditional Use
Patchouli oil is named for Pogostemon cablin, a leafy plant of the mint family native to tropical Asia. Its leaves were used in Asia to scent cloth and deter insects, and in magick it is associated with lust, attraction, money and the earth.
Uses by Tradition
Witchcraft & Folk Magick
- Dress a red candle for passion and desire.
- Anoint a green candle for money and grounding prosperity.
- Wear a drop as a sensual, earthy glamour.
Hoodoo & Rootwork
- Anoint love and lust mojo bags.
- Dress money petitions and wallet pieces.
Demonology & Black Magick
- Use as a stand-in for graveyard dirt in some modern traditions, dressing candles for work with the dead.
- Anoint offerings in Saturnine workings of binding or return.
A Simple Working
- Take a red chime candle and a square of parchment.
- Write what you desire, in love or passion.
- Dress the candle with Patchouli oil from base to wick.
- Anoint your wrists and the corners of the paper.
- Light the candle on the paper.
- When it burns out, keep the paper in your bedroom.
Pairs Well With
- Vetiver, another earthy oil for money and grounding.
- Rose, to soften patchouli’s weight in love work.
- Green or red candles, for money or passion.
- Smoky quartz, for grounding.
Lore & History
Patchouli became fashionable in Victorian Europe through the shawl trade, and later the signature scent of the 1960s counterculture. Modern Wiccan writers, notably Scott Cunningham, recorded the practice of using patchouli as a substitute for graveyard dust in spells.
What You Receive
Patchouli oil, an Espiritu blend, available in 2 dram, 4 dram and 1 oz bottles.
Did You Know?
Unlike most perfume oils, patchouli improves with age, and aged patchouli is valued above fresh.
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 2 dram, 4 dram, 1 oz |
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